May/June 2012

TOUGH POINT-AND-SHOOT

Take the Panasonic Lumix TS4 into any environment without having to worry about whether it will hold up under challenging conditions. The camera is waterproof down to 40 feet, shockproof from drops of up to 6.6 feet, dustproof and works in temperatures as low as 14º F. As far as camera features go, the TS4 has a manual shooting mode for controlling aperture and shutter speed, as well as a cool Time Lapse Shot mode. Using this feature, you set the start time, interval and the number of photos to shoot, and the camera automatically starts shooting. Images are then condensed and played back as a time-lapse sequence. List Price: $399. Contact: Panasonic, (800) 211-PANA, www.panasonic.com.

STRIKE IT

Capture lightning, a fireworks display or any other kind of event that requires high-speed flash capability with the Ubertronix Strike Finder. It works by detecting those very first sparks and triggering the camera shutter in time to photograph the whole event. Other models are available, and even the most basic one lets you capture lightning and fireworks. Advanced sensor technology and trigger capabilities, such as Sound, Laser, Motion and Lightning, allow you to take more creative shots of hard-to-photograph subject matter, like water droplets and popping balloons. There's also a flash port for an external flash, giving you even more flexibility. Estimated Street Price: $109 to $349. Contact: Ubertronix, (210) 363-5738, www.ubertronix.com.

LED FIX

Use the Flashpoint 312 LED to improve your video shooting, especially when you're working in a mixed-light environment and need to fine-tune it to match or contrast with whatever kind of light you're working with. The light mounts to the camera hot-shoe, has daylight and tungsten LEDs, and uses two dials to control color temperature. Working time is five hours and it's battery-operated so you can attach it to a light stand for off-camera use. Small and lightweight, the 312 won't take up too much space in your backpack. Estimated Street Price: $139. Contact: Flashpoint (Adorama), (800) 223-2500, www.adorama.com.